A recent study spearheaded by a researcher at Concordia University delves into the interdependent effects of social isolation, loneliness, and frailty among older adults. It reveals the complex interactions and bidirectional influences these factors exert as individuals age.
Fereshteh Mehrabi, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology, and her colleagues explore this intricate dynamic in a publication featured in the journal Age and Ageing. Their analysis is based on seven sequential surveys involving over 2,300 elderly Dutch participants, tracked triennially from 1995 to 2016. The findings underscore that physical frailty may predict future social isolation and that loneliness can be both a precursor and a result of increasing frailty.
The study illuminates how these three elements—frailty, loneliness, and social isolation—can intensify one another over time. Individuals who are lonely and isolated tend to experience an increase in frailty; conversely, as they become more frail, their feelings of isolation and loneliness intensify, particularly as they age.
Mehrabi notes significant correlations in the data across multiple survey waves spanning 18 years: older adults exhibiting frailty were more prone to loneliness, and in most of the data sets, they also faced social isolation.
This comprehensive research utilised data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, initiated in 1992. The average age of the participants was 72.6 years, with females representing approximately 52 per cent of the sample. Eligibility for the study required participants to be at least 55 years old.
The assessment of social isolation involved participants responding to six criteria, including marital status, living arrangements, frequency of contact with family and friends, and participation in organised activities. A higher tally on this scale indicated more excellent social isolation, focusing on the breadth of an individual’s social interactions.
Conversely, loneliness was evaluated through the quality of interpersonal relationships, assessed via responses to 11 targeted questions. These queries aimed to gauge feelings associated with the lack of close personal connections, with higher scores reflecting increased loneliness.
Frailty was measured through a combination of self-reported chronic conditions, overall health status, functional limitations (such as managing finances or grocery shopping independently), physical performance, memory issues, and signs of depression. This measure reflects a decline in physiological resilience and capacity to recover from stressors like illness or injury.
Interestingly, Mehrabi highlights that socially isolated individuals often adopt less healthy lifestyles, which can include smoking, inadequate nutrition, poor sleep patterns, and limited social interaction. However, she also points out the reversibility of social isolation and frailty through lifestyle modifications, particularly at the pre-frail stage. Such adjustments include improved nutrition, increased physical activity, and greater engagement in group-based activities.
The research advocates for targeted interventions that focus on socially isolated older adults and frail older adults to enhance their social engagement through community-based programs. Activities recommended for inclusion in such interventions include yoga and tai chi, facilitated through local community centres like libraries.
Mehrabi stresses the importance of bolstering social connections among older adults, particularly those showing signs of pre-frailty, to enhance their overall well-being and quality of life. This approach addresses the symptoms and root causes of frailty and isolation, offering a holistic strategy to improve the lives of older adults.
More information: Fereshteh Mehrabi et al, The temporal sequence and reciprocal relationships of frailty, social isolation and loneliness in older adults across 21 years, Age and Ageing. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae215
Journal information: Age and Ageing Provided by Concordia University
